Thread: Lower Buffalo Wilderness (May19th - 22nd)

Originally Posted by Greg Parker

Really nice trip it reminds me of the buffalo back in the 70s since you have to camp not many people I used to be really big into whitewater and have floated Richland creek the Cossatott and the very beginning of the Buffalo most people refer to as the Hailstone getting a little too old for that now but some of the best memories of my life and some of the most beautiful scenery in the state were brought to me on those trips

I used to float those creeks you mentioned and few others (South Fourche Lafave, Illinois Bayou, Piney, etc...) pre back injury. Now a 4 day easy float, lays me up for a few days. I miss that thrill. Since you brought up the topic of whitewater, I will tell on myself. At 6' Claber Shoals below Rush Creek on the lower Buffalo is no joke. I have floated this stretch 5 times. Some was at a higher level and the others were lower. This rapid at 6' results is 4' haystackers (rolling waves). As were we heading toward it, I confidently told Matt to stay low and calm in the boat and I'll handle this. Wrong! We tried to stay to the left but were sucked into the middle of the rapid and got swamped within seconds. We rode out the rapid in the swamped canoe until all of our stuff started floating out. I he'll on the the Yeti and Matt held onto the canoe. Luckily my uncle was in a canoe by himself and was lighter and made it through no problem. I grabbed most of our stuff. I lost my tackle box full of lures, a new rod and reel. Matt smashed up his canoe seat and broke a new rod. No one was hurt. Luckily we has extra poles and tackle. I pouted the rest of the day because of losing my fishing gear. My Dad and godfather did the same thing. The moral of this story is, if you are loaded down in a canoe with 4 days of gear and the River is BIG, don't be a hero. Walk the boat down or around the rapid! We still had a blast and it is a great memory.

I got the pleasure of catching a bunch of smallmouth while off at work here in OK a couple days ago since we didn't work and had nothing else to do. Now it wasn't river fishing but it was lake Arbuckle and it was a bunch of smallmouths on spinning gear. I've always wanted to do a float trip like that, looks like yall had a blast. We caught catfish, drum, large, spots, and smallmouths over here while fishing tubes so they are pretty versatile.

back in the day you wouldn't believe the smallies we caught in the caddo upstream from degray. saw a video of Homer Circle on Spring River just below Hardy. He claimed it was about the best stream in America for brownies. Crooked Creek has always been on my bucket list but when I was more able the controversy was brewing. Still has me scared off.

Originally Posted by D10

I he'll (held) on(to) the Yeti and Matt held onto the canoe.

Dang ole, dang ole...can't hide some of that AGFC biologist money.

AGFC biologist are grossly underpayed for the amount of work and hours they put in. Also I hate the "can't hide money" comments...it should be "can't hide hard work and initiative"

Originally Posted by Geagle81

AGFC biologist are grossly underpayed for the amount of work and hours they put in. "

Then please write/call/harass your state representatives stating such, as it does take an act of legislature. Furthermore, are you or any others willing to pay higher taxes to pay our salaries?

Yes I'm all for higher taxes because none of the money that comes from our taxes is wasted...

Originally Posted by garguy

Dang ole, dang ole...can't hide some of that AGFC biologist money.

Actually I have had that canoe for 15 years, while I was still in college. I had to sell the old boat I had to pay for it. Also, the Yeti cooler was borrow from a friend who does make a lot of money. I was giving it a trial run for him. He had never really tested it out over an extended period like that. I would never pay $400 for a cooler. Not ever a Yeti. Just don't care to spend that kind of money on one. However, it did keep ice through the entire trip. I can attest to state employees salaries. They aren't great but are better than when I first started. I'm not complaining about it because I have one of the best jobs a person could have.